A vehicle fuel vapor recovery system includes a compartment wall structure, a fuel filler tube and an air vent chamber structure. The compartment wall structure has a tube receiving opening and a vent opening. The fuel filler tube has a fuel receiving end located within the fuel filler compartment and a fuel tank attachment end located outside of the fuel filler compartment. The air vent chamber structure has a first wall located outside of the fuel filler compartment and a second wall extending from the first wall to an outer surface of the fuel filler tube. The first wall, the second wall, the fuel filler compartment wall structure, and the fuel filler tube cooperate to define an air vent chamber.
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1. A vehicle fuel vapor recovery system comprising:
a compartment wall structure having an interior surface defining a fuel filler compartment, an exterior surface, a tube receiving opening extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface and a vent opening extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface;
a fuel filler tube having an outer surface, an inner surface, a fuel receiving end and a fuel tank attachment end opposite the fuel receiving end, the fuel receiving end defining a filler opening, the inner surface defining a fuel passageway that extends from the filler opening to the fuel tank attachment end, the fuel receiving end extending through the tube receiving opening such that the fuel receiving end and the filler opening are located within the fuel filler compartment and the fuel tank attachment end is located outside the fuel filler compartment; and
an air vent chamber structure located outside of the fuel filler compartment and having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall having a first end contacting the exterior surface of the fuel filler compartment, the second wall extending from the first wall toward the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, with the first wall, the second wall, a portion of the outer surface of the fuel filler tube and a portion of the exterior surface of the fuel filler compartment defining an air vent chamber being in fluid communication with the vent opening of the compartment wall structure, the fuel receiving end of the fuel filler tube including an annular flange located within the fuel filler compartment that conceals the vent opening as viewed within the fuel filler compartment along a central axis of the filler opening.
13. A fuel filler tube assembly for a fuel vapor recovery system comprising:
a cap protector having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface at least partially defining a fuel filler compartment, with a tube receiving opening extending from the first surface to the second surface and a vent opening extending from the first surface to the second surface;
a fuel filler tube having an outer surface, an inner surface, a fuel receiving end, and a fuel tank attachment end opposite the fuel receiving end, the fuel receiving end defining a filler opening, the inner surface defining a fuel passageway extending from the fuel receiving end to the fuel tank attachment end, the fuel receiving end extending through the tube receiving opening and being attached to the cap protector at the tube receiving opening, the filler opening being located within the fuel filler compartment, the fuel receiving end of the fuel filler tube includes an annular flange that is flared radially outwardly relative to the filler opening and extending over the vent opening of the cap protector;
an air vent chamber structure having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall having a first end and a second end, the first end being located at the second surface of the cap protector, the first wall at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the fuel filler tube proximate the fuel receiving end, the second wall extending from the second end of the first wall toward the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, the first wall, the second wall, the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, and the second surface of the cap protector defining an air vent chamber being in fluid communication with the fuel filler compartment via the vent opening of the cap protector.
2. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the compartment wall structure includes a body panel defining a compartment opening, an intermediate wall structure attached to the body panel and defining an outboard portion of the fuel filler compartment, and a cap protector attached to the wall structure and defining an inboard portion of the fuel filler compartment.
3. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the cap protector defines the tube receiving opening and the vent opening.
4. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the vent opening of the compartment wall structure comprises a plurality of vent openings that provide fluid communication between the fuel filler compartment and the air vent chamber, each of the plurality of vent openings being spaced apart from one another circumferentially around the tube receiving opening.
5. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the vent opening of the compartment wall structure comprises a plurality of vent openings that provide fluid communication between the fuel filler compartment and the air vent chamber, each of the plurality of vent openings being spaced apart in a radial direction from the tube receiving opening.
6. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the first wall of the air vent chamber structure defines a chamber opening in fluid communication with the air vent chamber.
7. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
a fuel tank; and
a filter canister having a first breather opening in fluid communication with the fuel tank and a second breather opening in fluid communication with the chamber opening of the air vent chamber structure.
8. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the chamber opening is open to an upper portion of the air vent chamber.
9. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the first wall of the air vent chamber structure completely encircles the outer surface of the fuel filler tube adjacent to the fuel filler compartment.
10. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the compartment wall structure includes a plurality of vent openings in fluid communication with the air vent chamber, each of the vent openings being spaced apart from one another circumferentially around the tube receiving opening, and
the first wall of the air vent chamber structure includes an annular surface contacting the exterior surface of the compartment wall structure and surrounding the plurality of the vent openings.
11. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
the air vent chamber includes a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange that are fixedly attached to the fuel filler tube at circumferentially spaced apart locations, with the first wall of the air vent chamber structure extending from the first attachment flange to the second attachment flange, the first wall partially surrounding the outer surface of the fuel filler tube.
12. The vehicle fuel vapor recovery system according to
a first seal located between the first wall of the air vent chamber structure and the exterior surface of the compartment wall structure, and
a second seal positioned between the second wall of the air vent chamber structure and the outer surface of the fuel filler tube.
14. The fuel filler tube assembly according to
the annular flange is dimensioned to conceal the vent opening as viewed along a central axis of the filler opening.
15. The fuel filler tube assembly according to
the vent opening of the cap protector comprises a plurality of vent openings in fluid communication with the air vent chamber, each of the plurality of vent openings being spaced apart from one another circumferentially around the tube receiving opening.
16. The fuel filler tube assembly according to
the vent opening of the cap protector comprises a plurality of vent openings in fluid communication with the air vent chamber, each of the plurality of vent openings being spaced apart radially from the tube receiving opening.
17. The fuel filler tube assembly according to
the first wall of the air vent chamber structure defines a chamber opening in fluid communication with the air vent chamber.
18. The fuel filler tube assembly according to
the first wall of the air vent chamber structure completely encircles the outer surface of the fuel filler tube adjacent to the cap protector.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system that includes a vent structure located at a fuel filler tube of a vehicle.
2. Background Information
During a vehicle refueling process, as fuel fills a fuel tank of the vehicle, air within the fuel tank is displaced. The displaced air typically includes hydrocarbon compounds that have vaporized from the liquid fuel within the fuel tank. New vehicles are typically equipped with a fuel vapor recovery system that includes a charcoal filled filter canister. The filter canister is configured to capture the hydrocarbons present in air escaping from the fuel tank during a vehicle refueling process.
Later, when the engine of the vehicle is operating, the fuel vapor recovery system is configured such that fresh air is allowed to flow into the filter canister, drawing the hydrocarbons out of the filter canister. This fresh air and the captured hydrocarbons are then fed into the engine and combusted along with liquid fuel from the fuel tank. The filter canister is connected to a vent that is positioned to draw the fresh air in when the engine is operating. The vent is typically located somewhere under a fender or other body panel of the vehicle drawing air in from under the vehicle.
One object of the disclosure is to provide a fuel vapor recovery system of a vehicle with a protected air vent chamber that vents air to a fuel filler compartment and also draws fresh air in from the fuel filler compartment.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide a fuel vapor recovery system of a vehicle with an air vent for a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system that is protected from weather extremes and outdoor debris.
In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the disclosure of a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system includes a compartment wall structure, a fuel filler tube and an air vent chamber structure. The compartment structure has an interior surface defining a fuel filler compartment and an exterior surface, with a tube receiving opening extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface and a vent opening extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The fuel filler tube has an outer surface, an inner surface, a fuel receiving end and a fuel tank attachment end opposite the fuel receiving end. The fuel receiving end defines a filler opening. The inner surface defines a fuel passageway that extends from the filler opening to the fuel tank attachment end. The fuel receiving end extends through the tube receiving opening such that the fuel receiving end and the filler opening are located within the fuel filler compartment and the fuel tank attachment end is located outside the fuel filler compartment. The air vent chamber structure is located outside of the fuel filler compartment and has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall has a first end contacting the exterior surface of the compartment wall structure. The second wall extends from a second end of the first wall toward the outer surface of the fuel filler tube. The first wall, the second wall, a portion of the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, and a portion of the exterior surface of the fuel filler compartment cooperate to define an air vent chamber being in fluid communication with the vent opening of the compartment wall structure.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
The fuel vapor recovery system 10 basically includes a fuel tank 20, a fuel filler tube 22, a refueling control valve 24, a vapor cutoff valve 26, an engine vacuum cut-off valve 28, a filter canister 30, a vent valve 32, a fuel level sensor 34, the air vent chamber structure 14 and associated vent lines that provide sealed fluid communication between connected elements. Specifically, a first line L1 connects the fuel filler tube 22 to the fuel tank 20; a second line L2 connects the fuel filler tube 22 to the refueling control valve 24; a third line L3 connects the air vent chamber 15 to the vent valve 32; a fourth line L4 connects the refueling control valve 24 to the filter canister 30; a fifth line L5 connects the vapor cutoff valve 26 to the engine vacuum cut-off valve 28; a sixth line L6 connects the engine vacuum cut-off valve 28 to the filter canister 30 and a seventh line L7 connects the filter canister 30 to an intake manifold (not shown) of an engine 36 in a conventional manner.
It should be understood from the drawings and the description herein that a fuel delivery system (not shown) is configured to draw liquid fuel from the fuel tank 20 and deliver it to the engine 36, while the engine 36 is operating. Since the fuel delivery system (not shown) is a conventional system, further description is omitted for the sake of brevity.
The fuel vapor recovery system 10 is configured to operate the refueling control valve 24, the engine vacuum cut-off valve 28 and the vent valve 32 to direct vapors exiting the fuel tank 20 during refueling to the filter canister 30. The filter canister 30 is filled with a hydrocarbon absorbing material, such as, for example, charcoal. The hydrocarbon absorbing material absorbs hydrocarbons during the re-fueling process. Thereafter, while the engine 36 of the vehicle 10 is operating, the refueling control valve 24, the engine vacuum cut-off valve 28 and the vent valve 32 are operated to draw fresh air in from the air vent chamber 15 via the third line L3, and pass the fresh air through the filter canister 30. The fresh air flowing through the filter canister 30 draws the hydrocarbons out of the hydrocarbon absorbing material such that the hydrocarbons are drawn through the line L7 to the engine 36, where the hydrocarbons are consumed in the combustion process. The fuel vapor recovery system 10 includes a controller (not shown) that controls the refueling control valve 24, the engine vacuum cut-off valve 28 and the vent valve 32 and detects the fuel level sensed by the fuel level sensor 34. One example of the configuration of the controller (not shown) and overall operation of the fuel vapor recovery system 10 is further described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0153374, filed Mar. 29, 2002, (assigned to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.), which is incorporated herein in its entirety. There are alternative ways of configuring a controller and operating the fuel vapor recovery system 10.
It should be understood from the drawings and description herein, that the basic elements of the fuel vapor recovery system described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0153374 can be altered and re-arranged in order to achieve the fuel vapor recovery system 10 described herein. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein include the unique features of the fuel filler tube assembly 12, and the air vent chamber structure 14 which are not disclosed or suggested in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0153374. More specifically, the fuel filler tube assembly 12, and the air vent chamber structure 14 described herein can be employed with other fuel vapor recovery systems that differ from that disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0153374.
As shown in
The side body panel 52 has an exterior surface 60 (
As shown in
It should be understood from the drawings and the description herein, that the fuel filler compartment 56, fuel filler tube assembly 12 and the fuel filler tube 22 can be installed at any of a variety of locations around the vehicle 10. Specifically, the fuel filler compartment 56 and the fuel filler tube 22 can be installed within a rear storage area (the trunk) of the vehicle 50, behind a rear license plate support structure (not shown) or other location of the vehicle 50. The fuel filler compartment 56 and the fuel filler tube 22 can also be installed at locations around a front portion of the vehicle 50. In other words, the drawings only depict one location of the fuel filler compartment 56 on the vehicle 50, but not the only location.
As shown in
The fuel door 54 is moveably fixed to the side body panel 52 by a hinge structure for movement between an open position shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The compartment wall structure 70 (the cap protector 72 and the intermediate wall structure 74) defines the tube receiving opening 88 that extends from the inboard surface 70a to the outboard surface 70b of the compartment wall structure 70. A portion of the fuel filler tube 22 extends through the tube receiving opening 88 into the fuel filler compartment 56 and is attached to the compartment wall structure 70 at the tube receiving opening 88 of the cap protector 72.
As mentioned above, the first surface 84 of the cap protector 72 and the interior surface 76 of the intermediate wall structure 74 at least partially define the fuel filler compartment 56. Alternatively, the opening 80 of the intermediate wall structure 74 could be made smaller to act as the tube receiving opening 88, and the fuel filler tube 22 could be inserted into the opening 80 and attached directly to the intermediate wall structure 74; and the vent openings 90 could be formed in the intermediate wall structure 74 surrounding the opening 80 circumferentially spaced apart from one another and spaced radially outward from the opening 80.
It should be understood from the drawings and the description herein, that the compartment wall structure 70, and in particular, the intermediate wall structure 74, can alternatively be formed by welding a plurality of separate elements together to achieve the depicted shape. Further, the intermediate wall structure 74 can be made of a plurality of sheet metal panels welded together to form a rectangular box-like shape.
For simplified manufacturing, the elements that define the compartment wall structure 70 can be separately manufactured. Specifically, the intermediate wall structure 74 can be manufactured separately from the cap protector 72. Further, the cap protector 72 can be assembled to the fuel filler tube 22 to define the fuel filler tube assembly 12.
A description of the fuel filler tube assembly 12 is now provided with specific reference to
As shown in
The fuel filler tube 22 includes an outer surface 92, an inner surface 94 (
The fuel receiving end 96 of the fuel filler tube 22 extends through the tube receiving opening 88 of the cap protector 72 such that the fuel receiving end 96 and the filler opening 94a are located within the fuel filler compartment 56. However, the majority of the fuel tank filer tube 22 and the fuel tank attachment end 98 are located outside the fuel filler compartment 56 behind the side body panel 52.
The fuel receiving end 96 of the fuel filler tube 22 includes an annular flange 96a. As shown in
The two alignment pins 92a are disposed at opposite sides of the fuel filler tube 22. The alignment pins 92a can be formed with the fuel filler tube 22 or can be metallic pins welded to the fuel filler tube 22 at predetermined locations. The alignment pins 92a are located on the fuel filler tube 22 in order to precisely position the collar 16 on the fuel filler tube 22 relative to the compartment wall structure 70, as described in greater detail below.
The air vent chamber 15 is defined outside of the fuel filler compartment 56. More specifically, the air vent chamber 15 is a space that is confined by the collar 16, a portion of the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22 surrounded by the collar 16 and a portion of the outboard surface 70b of the compartment wall structure 70 covered by the collar 16. Further, the portion of the outboard surface 70b of the compartment wall structure 70 covered by the collar 16 is defined by the second surface 86 of the cap protector 72, as shown in
The collar 16 is a cylindrical or ring shaped structure that includes an annular wall 100. The collar 16 has an outer collar surface 104 and an inner collar surface 106. With the collar 16 installed around the fuel filler tube 22, the annular wall 100 is located outside of the fuel filler compartment 56 adjacent to the second surface 86 of the cap protector 72, as shown in
The annular wall 100 is basically a cylinder that completely encircles or surrounds the fuel filler tube 22. The annular wall 100 is basically circumferentially equidistant from the outer surface 92 of the fuel tank filler tube 22. The fuel receiving end 96 of the fuel filler tube 22 defines an axis A, and the annular wall 100 of the collar defines an axis B that is coaxial with the axis A when installed to the fuel filler tube 22. The annular wall 100 is a side wall of the collar 16. The collar 16 also includes an end wall 102. The annular wall 100 has a first end that is contiguous with the end wall, and a second end opposite the end wall 102. The end wall has an inner surface 102b that is continuous with the inner collar surface 106, and an outer surface 102c that is continuous with the outer collar surface 104. As shown in
More specifically, the end wall 102 extends radially inwardly from the annular wall 100 with a tube receiving surface 102a extending from the inner surface 102b to the outer surface 102c and contacting the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22. Another seal S can optionally be provided along the tube receiving surface 102a of the end wall 102 contacting the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22, thereby further sealing the air vent chamber 15, as shown in
The collar 16 is dimensioned such that the vent openings 90 in the cap protector 72 provide fluid communication between the fuel filler compartment 56 and the air vent chamber 15. In other words, the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22 has a diameter D1 and the inner collar surface 106 of the collar 16 has a diameter D2 with the diameter D2 being larger than the diameter D1. The vent openings 90 are located radially outward of the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22 and located radially inward of the inner collar surface 106 of the collar 16. Consequently, the opening 108 of the collar 16 is open to the vent openings 90. Thus, the vent openings 90 serve as a conduit or duct between the fuel filler compartment 56 and the air vent chamber 15.
A further description of the collar 16 in accordance with the first embodiment is now provided with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The ribs R are spaced apart from one another relative to an axial direction of the collar 16. Further, the ribs R are interrupted with sections being removed to form a series of gaps G. The arrangement of ribs R and gaps G are staggered at least partially defining the above mentioned airflow passage way. Specifically, the airflow passageway is a non-linear, staggered path that extends from the opening 108 and eventually flows to the chamber opening 122. When the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 are installed to one another and installed to the fuel filler tube 22, the ribs R and gaps G of the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 combine to make a labyrinth or maze that venting air must follow as it travels between the fuel filler compartment 56, the air vent chamber 15, the chamber opening 122 and the line L3. The airflow passageway acts as a filter, preventing debris and moisture from passing in or out of the chamber opening 122. Also, the chamber opening 122 includes a screen 126 that also serves as a filter to prevent insects and/or debris from moving through the chamber opening 122. The screen 126 can have a fine mesh material with very small openings or can be a coarser screen material with larger openings. As shown in
When the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 are attached to one another defining the collar 16, the annular surface 100a of the annular wall 100 is a circular or annular shaped surface that contacts the second surface 86 of the cap protector 72, as described above, Further, when the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 are attached to one another defining the collar 16, the tube receiving surface 102a is a surface that completely encircles or surrounds the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22. In the depicted embodiment, the tube receiving surface 102a is not annular but has a serpentine shape due to the inclusion of symmetrical recesses 128.
The first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 each include the recesses 128. As shown in
As shown in
It should also be understood from the drawings and the description herein that the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 are identical to one another except that the second half collar section 112 includes the chamber opening 122, the elbow fitting 124 and the screen 126. Otherwise, the first half collar section 110 and the second half collar section 112 are identical and mate together to define the collar 16 in the first embodiment.
It should be understood from the drawings and the description herein that the air vent chamber structure 14 can be constructed and/or formed in any of a variety of ways. For example, the collar 16 can be replaced with a half collar arrangement that attaches to the fuel filler tube 22 in order to define the air vent chamber 15.
It should also be understood from the drawings and description herein, that the fuel door 54 does not provide an air tight seal between an exterior of the vehicle 50 and the fuel filler compartment 56. Therefore, air can move relatively freely between the fuel filler compartment 56 and the exterior of the vehicle 50. However, the fuel door 54 protects and covers the fuel filler compartment 56 preventing debris and dirt from entering the fuel filler compartment 56. Therefore, the location of the air vent chamber 15 and the ability for air to move freely between the air vent chamber 15 and the fuel filler compartment 56 provides a clean environment for the movement of air to and from the filter canister 30 during operation of the fuel vapor recovery system 10.
In the depicted embodiment, the inner collar surface 106 of the collar 16 (an end wall) and outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22 are parallel to one another with the collar 16 fully installed.
Referring now to
In the second embodiment, the fuel filler tube assembly 12′ replaces the fuel filler tube assembly 12 of the first embodiment in the fuel vapor recovery system 10, but includes many of the structural elements of the fuel filler tube assembly 12 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the fuel filler tube assembly 12′ includes the fuel filler tube 22 of the first embodiment and the cap protector 72. However, in the second embodiment, the collar 16 from the air vent chamber structure 14 is eliminated and replaced with a collar 16′ from an air vent chamber structure 14′. The collar 16′ only extends part way around the fuel filler tube 22. The collar 16′ includes a first attachment flange F1 and a second attachment flange F2 that are fixedly attached to the fuel filler tube 22 at circumferentially spaced apart locations. The first wall 100′ of the air vent chamber structure 14′ extends from the first attachment flange F1 to the second attachment flange F2. The first wall 100′ partially surrounds the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22 to define an air vent chamber 15′ between the first wall 100′, the second wall 102′, the outer surface 92 of the fuel filler tube 22, and the exterior surface 86 of the cap protector 72.
In the first embodiment, the collar 16 can be made of a plastic or polymer material. In the second embodiment, the collar 16′ is made of metal, and the first attachment flange F1 and the second attachment flange F2 are welded to the side of the fuel filler tube 22 at welds W, thereby defining the air vent chamber 15′. The collar 16′ includes ribs R having gaps G, forming a labyrinth that defines an air flow passageway similar to that of the collar 16 of the first embodiment. The collar 16′ further includes the chamber opening 122, the elbow fitting 124 and the screen 126 of the first embodiment. The collar 16′ joins with the cap protector 72 providing ventilation between the air vent chamber 15′ and the fuel filler compartment 56 in a manner consistent with the first embodiment.
The controller (not shown) of the fuel vapor recovery system 10 preferably includes a microcomputer with a fuel vapor recovery system control program that controls the fuel vapor recovery system 10. The controller can also include other conventional components such as an input interface circuit, an output interface circuit, and storage devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) device and a RAM (Random Access Memory) device. The microcomputer of the controller is programmed to control the fuel vapor recovery system 10. The internal RAM of the controller stores statuses of operational flags and various control data. The internal ROM of the controller stores the information necessary for various operations of the fuel vapor recovery system 10. The controller is capable of selectively controlling any of the components of the control system in accordance with the control program. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the precise structure and algorithms for the controller of the fuel vapor recovery system 10 can be any combination of hardware and software that will carry out the functions of the present invention.
There are various components of the fuel vapor recovery system 10 and the vehicle 50 that are conventional components that are well known in the art. Since these components are well known in the art, these structures will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the components can be any type of structure and/or programming that can be used to carry out the present invention.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiments, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the fuel vapor recovery system. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the fuel vapor recovery system.
The term “detect” as used herein to describe an operation or function carried out by a component, a section, a device or the like includes a component, a section, a device or the like that does not require physical detection, but rather includes determining, measuring, modeling, predicting or computing or the like to carry out the operation or function.
The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function.
The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Fujiwara, Souichi, Dawe, Brandon Michael
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Dec 04 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Dec 04 2013 | FUJIWARA, SOUICHI | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 031716 | /0410 | |
Dec 04 2013 | DAWE, BRANDON MICHAEL | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 031716 | /0410 | |
Nov 23 2016 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC | NISSAN MOTOR CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 040439 | /0825 |
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